Zelensky, after his initiation period, similarly did seem to be invested in the reinvigoration of conflict resolution in Eastern Ukraine and set on a drastic change of direction in foreign policy towards Russia, in order to fulfill his promises of peace and prosperity. He restarted the Normandy Format and even went so far as to initiate direct contact with Russia, something that Poroshenko near the end of his presidency adamantly refused. For a while, it seemed like the tide might be changing.